The NFL is back for Week 12, and we’re coming off a Thursday Night Football contest that sets up the playoff race heading into the week. The Texans beat the Colts in a key AFC South matchup, led by DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller putting up huge games.
We’re back with one of the more unbalanced Sunday schedules on the calendar. We have nine games in the 1:00 p.m. slot and only two in the 4:05/4:25 p.m. slot. The day wraps up with a huge potential playoff matchup on Sunday Night Football between the Packers and 49ers.
This week brings the last set of byes for the season. The Chiefs, Chargers, Cardinals,a nd Vikings will not be playing, which removes some big names as the fantasy playoffs approach. We are without Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill, Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler, Kyler Murray, Dalvin Cook, and plenty more.
There are plenty of notable names on the injury reports and lineups will be dependent on 11:30 a.m. inactives, and plenty beyond. The late games leave us waiting for word on Mohamed Sanu and Julian Edelman, and SNF will have updates on George Kittle and Emmanuel Sanders. Tom Brady is listed on the Patriots injury report, but he is expected to play.
If you’re trying to figure out your fantasy football lineups, this information is critical to getting the right players in the right spots. If you’ve got key players in the Sunday Night Football or Monday Night Football slots, you’re looking for any grain of information that will help you make the decision early rather than waiting until it’s too late tonight or tomorrow night.
We’re all figuring out last minute roster decisions, and that means not only who is not playing this week, but who is playing but might not be the best start in your Week 12 fantasy football lineup. We’ll provide updates on injuries, key start/sit decisions, and more leading up to kickoffs.
1:00 p.m. inactives report
Active
RB Adrian Peterson
WR Auden Tate
WR Demayius Thomas
WR Sterling Shepard
TE T.J. Hockenson
Inactive
RB Jordan Howard
RB Devonta Freeman
WR Alshon Jeffery
WR Nelson Agholor
TE Austin Hooper
TE Evan Engram
TE Rhett Ellison
DE Jadeveon Clowney
Tom Brady to play, but dealing with elbow pain
Brady was a late addition to the injury report on Friday with an elbow injury. He is expected to play, but is dealing with some pain in his right elbow. Ian Rapoport reported backup Jarrett Stidham took the majority of reps on Friday, but Brady assured the team he’ll be fine. He’s a decent start this week, but this is something to monitor.
Alshon Jeffery now a question mark for Week 12
National media were reporting Jeffery was expected to play in spite of his questionable tag, but now it is up in the air. Adam Schefter tweeted that “it’s now iffy” for Jeffery vs. the Seahawks. None of the other Eagles receivers are worth a start, but backup tight end Dallas Goedert could see enough of a boost to be worth a start — especially as a cheap DFS option.
George Kittle expected to play
The 49ers have been without their star tight end since he injured his knee in Week 9. He returned to practice this week and has been optimistic about his chances of playing against the Packers. National media is reporting that Kittle is expected to play after testing out his knee in pre-game warmups.
Adrian Peterson expected to play
AP is questionable with a knee injury, but is expected to play, per Adam Schefter, with Chris Thompson likely to sit. The big question is how much work AP will get compared to Derrius Guice. Last week, Peterson got the start, but Guice was the more effective back. At some point Guice will replace AP in the starting lineup, and given the latter’s injury, maybe this is the week he starts to supplant AP.
Alshon Jeffery to play, Nelson Agholor, Jordan Howard to sit
The Eagles should have Jeffery back after he missed last week with an ankle injury. Meanwhile, Agholor and Howard are not expected to play. Jeffery is a decent start this week against Seattle, but otherwise expect the tight ends and running backs to be busiest. Miles Sanders will get the start, with Boston Scott and Jay Ajayi working behind him. They will potentially limited Sanders’ upside, but he’s a strong start this weekend.
Mohamed Sanu unlikely to play in Week 12
The Patriots’ wide receiver corps is banged up, but they’re hoping for some reinforcements. Adam Schefter is reporting Sanu is feeling better and might play this afternoon. However, Ian Rapoport is reporting his role would be extremely limited. This suggests you should sit Sanu in fantasy this weekend.
UPDATE: NFL Network reporter Jeff Darlington and Patriots beat writer Michael Giardi both are reporting the Patriots will be conservative in their approach with Sanu. It seems highly unlikely Sanu plays in Week 12.